Chris Tucker talks Silver Linings Playbook, his absence from films, and why he won’t do another Friday film

Chris Tucker talks Silver Linings Playbook, his absence from films, and why he won’t do another Friday film
by Wilson Morales

November 16, 2012

Released this week on limited theaters and expanding over the next few weeks in the dramatic comedy film, ‘Silver Linings Playbook,’which is directed David O. Russell and starring Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Jackie Weaver, and Chris Tucker.

Pat Solitano (Bradley Cooper) has lost everything–his house, his job, and his wife. He now finds himself living back with his mother (Jacki Weaver) and father (Robert DeNiro) after spending eight months in a state institution on a plea bargain. Pat is determined to rebuild his life, remain positive and reunite with his wife, despite the challenging circumstances of their separation. All Pat’s parents want is for him to get back on his feet–and to share their family’s obsession with the Philadelphia Eagles football team. When Pat meets Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence), a mysterious girl with problems of her own, things get complicated. Tiffany offers to help Pat reconnect with his wife, but only if he’ll do something very important for her in return. As their deal plays out, an unexpected bond begins to form between them, and silver linings appear in both of their lives.

For Tucker, who plays a former mental patient named Danny, it’s been six years since the media last saw him on the big screen in the 2006 film ‘Rush Hour 3.’ While the film received mixed to negative reviews, the film was financially successful, grossing over $250 million worldwide.

The ‘Rush Hour’ franchise made the Atlanta, Georgia native a wealthy individual and folks wondered why he walked away from doing more films. To date, he had done less than 10 meaningful films (Friday, Dead Presidents, Money Talks, The Fifth Element, Jackie Brown, and 3 Rush Hour films).

There’s been speculation over the last few years that Tucker may reunite with Ice Cube in a return to the ‘Friday’ franchise. Tucker had stated earlier that he thought the magic was gone, while Cube thinks differently.

In speaking exclusively with Blackfilm.com, Tucker about his absence from film and stated that he will definitely not be returning to the Friday franchise.

Why haven’t we seen you in films over that the last few years?

CT: I decided to go back and do stand up comedy. I went to the comedy clubs and started from scratch. I started out that way. I thought that would make me a better actor and better at everything. I went to the clubs, and worked for a few years. Then I toured the country for two years. I just finished filming my stand up comedy movie that I always wanted to do. It’s been a life long dream. I grew up watching Richard Pryor and Eddie Murphy do their stand up comedy movies. I always wanted to do one and I wanted my career to go like Richard Pryor’s, from stand up to movies, but never letting the stand up go. I just shot that in Atlanta and it will be in theaters early next year.

What’s happening with the ‘Friday’ franchise? Do you want to be part of it. Some things have been said by others and yourself, so let’s be clear on what you want.

CT: I don’t think I’m going to do it because it’s been so long ago and I’m flattered that people want to another one and also want to see me in it, but I want to do some new stuff at this point, this time in my career. I thought how great it is that people still love that movie because it took a life of its own and you never what these movies are going to do when you do them, but you hope it does well, but you never know. You do know when you are doing it because you are in the moment and you’re having fun.

Is this a new change of pace for you?

CT: I think it’s the start of something that people haven’t seen a lot of since ‘Dead Presidents.’ I want to do more dramatic roles, but also more roles that may be serious but have some comedy elements to it.

Would you consider doing a biopic?

CT: Yeah. I think it would be fun to do like someone like the Otis Redding story and a few other stories. It would be fun to do someone that I admire and that I can pull off.

Here’s the full interview of Tucker talking about his role in Silver Linings Playbook, Friday, The Intouchables, and considering an Otis Redding biopic.